Discover Athens

a group of people outside of a building with a hill in the background

Athens at your doorstep

Athens is a city of long-lasting history, where modernity is blended with antiquity in an emblematic, multicultural manner. A plethora of monuments and attractions in Athens reveal its eternal glamor and significance.

Wyndham Athens Residence is located right next to Metaxourgeio Metro station, in a privileged spot allowing you great connectivity. A lot of metro stations are small art exhibitions of their own, since they feature artifacts from the excavations having taken place during their construction. Within short walking distance, you may access various museums and archaeological sites covering well over 3000 years of history. In addition, you are a breath away from bars, clubs, concert venues and many other spots highlighting the famous nightlife of Athens.

There are plenty of stores and shops, malls and pedestrian roads to explore and shop, as well as restaurants and taverns serving delicious Greek cuisine and international food options. In Athens, you may also find recreation areas, fun parks and natural parks. It is in fact an all-year-round destination that will fascinate you, no matter when you choose to visit. Set out on your Athenian explorations and you will surely fall in love with the city!

Wyndham Athens Residence
Museums
Cycladic Art Museum
National Archaeological Museum
Acropolis Museum
Archaeological Sites
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Acropolis
a narrow street with trees on both sides
Hidden Gems

Wyndham Athens Residence offers you a glimpse at some of the hidden treasures in the city! Contact us for information on walking tours and other activities in the area. Or else, check out the following hidden gems in Athens.

Lycabettus Hill is the highest peak in Athens, with an imposing altitude of 277 meters above sea level. Goddess Athena dropped a rock and Lycabettus was formed. Upon reaching the top, the views from above are simply magical!

Anafiotika is a picturesque neighborhood underneath the Acropolis, next to the famous Plaka. Immigrants from the quaint island of Anafi resided there and therefore resembles life on a Cycladic island. A walk through Anafiotika's narrow pathways will make you travel to an island without leaving the Greek capital!

Mount Hymettus is less prominent than Mount Lycabettus, but equally thrilling. It is a popular hiking option for locals, while Kaisariani Monastery is a great place to visit dating back to the 12th century.

Strefi Hill is located in the avant-garde, alternative neighborhood called Exarcheia. Climbing to the top of the hill offers a panoramic view to the entire city.

Gaze at the Athenian Riviera, the illuminated Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill, the starlit Athenian sky and much more!

a group of people in clothing walking on a street
Attractions

From Wyndham Athens Residence, you are welcome to explore the city of Athens. The ancient rock of Acropolis is arguably a must-see destination, so this is where you should start!

Get off at Acropolis metro station and walk half a block with the Acropolis museum to your left. Turn left on Dionysiou Areopagitou street. There you will see the Acropolis entrance to your right.

Follow the path and you will come across the Theater of Dionysus - the theater used in classical times and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The path becomes steeper until you reach Propylaia. Upon ascending to the top of the rock, feel free to walk around and admire one of the most iconic attractions in the entire world.

From Acropolis, you should continue your walk towards the Ancient Agora. Further down towards the Thission metro station you will find Kerameikos, the ancient cemetery of Athens. Plaka and Thissio are ideal for a light snack or a hearty lunch. Next stop is Monastiraki, a central hub with the flea market located on Ifaistou Street. Plaka is the oldest neighborhood in Athens and one of the most picturesque ones.

You should not forget Syntagma, the main square and major meeting point in Athens. Walk up the stairs and you'll get to admire the emblematic Greek Parliament building. The Changing of the Guards will fascinate you. It is in fact a ritual held on an hourly basis, with the Guards wearing traditional clothing and walking in perfect sync.

The National Garden is a serene oasis of green in the center of Athens. The Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Pillars of Zeus, Kallimarmaro and many other points of interest are waiting for you to discover!

a large room with people and glass walls
Museums & Antiquity

Among the Athenian museums, there is one that stands out. The modern, fully renovated Acropolis Museum is indisputably the major attraction in the city of Athens. Greeks take pride in this museum, since it is a dazzling structure with impressive displays. It opened its doors in 2009 and soon became a must-see attraction for both locals and travelers from all over the world.

Upon visiting the modern Museum of Acropolis, you will have the opportunity to admire statues and friezes, artifacts and everyday objects used in the past. Visitors can see the sanctuaries that had been built on the slopes of the Actopolis, looking down through the glass floors. Access to the museum is prompt and smooth, as it is located just a few minutes on foot from the Acropolis metro station.

Moving on, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens boasts being the largest museum in the country. The largest collection of Greek antiquities in the whole world can be found here, stretching from the Mycenaean all the way to the Hellenistic era. You are welcome to admire vases, amphorae, bronze and marble statues, even utensils and everyday objects from ancient history. Visitors are kindly expected to use the metro from Metaxourgeio to Omonoia and then change to the green line towards Kifissia. Victoria station is the closest one from the museum, since you can then reach it within 10 minutes.

Benaki Museum on the other hand offers a more intimate experience. You will find an imposing historic neoclassical building in the city center. The collection of Benaki family was donated to the Greek State in 1931. Visiting the museum, you will see collections from the Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras. Once more, connectivity is great. You may access the museum from the metro stations of Syntagma or Evaggelismos.

Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art is another major point of attraction in Athens. Its exhibits depict the ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus, focusing more on Cycladic Art from 3,000 BC. The museum was established in 1986 and is situated in Kolonaki square, boasting easy access from Syntagma metro station.

The Numismatic Museum is one of the oldest in the city, since it was founded in 1834. There you will find impressive collections of coins, medals and precious stones from ancient Greece, Rome, Byzantium, the Ottoman period and modern Greece, as well as all over the world. You can access the museum on Panepistimiou street, getting off at the metro station of either Syntagma or Panepistimiou.

Kerameikos Museum houses findings from excavations in Kerameikos. This was in fact the ancient cemetery of Athens. Funerary urns, grave offerings and funerary monuments of impressive style and elegance are included in the exhibits. To get to the museum, you use the metro until Kerameikos or Thissio.

A fully renovated building houses the Municipal Gallery at Metaxourgeio. The building was a silk processing factory until 1875 and the whole neighborhood was named after it. Renovation works began in 2007, so that the building would house prominent cultural events. Since 2010 it is home to the Municipal Gallery.

The Byzantine and Christian Museum features a large collection from the early Christian period to the post-Byzantine years. It is accessed via metro, getting off at Evaggelismos metro station. The Hellenic Children's Museum is located in the heart of Plaka and is the perfect place for a family visit.

Ilias Lalaounis Museum was founded in 2001 and features jewelry and other decorative arts. The jewels on the first floor are inspired by the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, even from pre-historic times. The displays on the second floor are inspired by nature and by modern technology. The museum is conveniently located next to the Acropolis. Then, there is the War Museum. At the junction of Vasilissis Sofias avenue and Rizari street, next to the Byzantine museum and close to Evaggelismos station, this is a great place to visit in between your other Athenian explorations.

The National Art Gallery is a must-see for art enthusiasts. Among the finest masterpieces on permanent display, you will have the opportunity to admire "The Engagement of the Children", "Arts and its Spirits", "Springs Symphony" and "Here Comes the Bridegroom" by Nikolaos Gizis, "Lyssandros Kaftantzoglou" by Nikiforos Lytras, "The Port of Copenhagen" by Ioannis Altamouras and a lot more impressive items.

a busy street with people and cars
Shopping

Agora in antiquity meant a public place where people met to discuss and socialize. Nowadays, its meaning has been transformed into shopping. Athens boasts a wide range of shopping options, varying in type and size but maintaining the city's unique character. At the Athens Central Market, travelers are welcomed to a journey of the senses and a gastronomic delight. Herbs, spices, cheeses, olives and other tasty Greek foods are on sale every day. And there are taverns to visit after your shopping spree there!

Ermou street is pedestrianized and arguably the most renowned shopping street in the city. It connects Syntagma square with Monastiraki and features brand name department stores, souvenir shops and local shops, restaurants and picturesque cafes. Cosmopolitans will love Kolonaki district and Voukourestiou street. There you will get the opportunity to buy posh jewelry and take a look at avant-garde fashion stores.

Monastiraki flea market resembles bazaars from the Orient. The shops there feature literally everything you might come to think, from clothing to accessories, souvenirs and great bargains. Music lovers will find CDs and discs, rare recordings and mementos from concerts.

Finally, shopping malls in Athens are also amazing and attract people from all over the world. Attica is located on Panepistimiou street, while others are a bit further away from the center but still accessible via the metro or train: The Mall Athens, The Athens Metro Mall and Athens Heart are famous malls with a wide collection of stores.

a large pool of water with people walking around it
Athenian Riviera

Athens is a world-renowned destination thanks to its historic monuments and attractions. Its long-lasting history does not deprive its impressive coastline. This is the Athenian Riviera, within short distance from the city center and stretching till the emblematic Cape Sounio!

Starting from Piraeus, Athenian Riviera covers Flisvos and Faliro. It reaches Alimos and Elliniko, then Glyfada and Voula. Lake Vouliagmeni is next. Its name means "sunken" in Greek and legend has it that a lost city fell into this deep lake, flanked by an immense limestone cave. Anavissos is a wonderful beach and there are many fish taverns in the area.

At the tip of the Athenian peninsula you will find Cape Sounio, home to the iconic Temple of Poseidon. Perched magically on the edge of the land, the Temple was once welcoming sight for sea travelers looking to return home to Athens. Today the temple is a famous attraction for travelers from all over the world. And it is the place with the most mesmerizing sunset in Athens!